Match-up game system

ABSTRACT

A match-up game system includes a game database providing step of providing a game database based on a data record regarding a previous match of the virtual characters from the game server computer to the headquartered computer; a ranking data record generation step in which the headquarter server computer generates a ranking data record for ranking the virtual characters based on the data record of the game database; and a ranking data record providing step of sending the ranking data record from the headquarter server computer to the member client computer and the gamer client computers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a match-up game system in which virtual characters of gamers can play a match against each other on online.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there has been widely used a match-up game in which virtual characters of players can play a match against each other on a computer to compete a win. In particular, with an advancement of a high speed electrical communication network such as the internet, there has been widely used a conventional network match-up type game in which virtual characters of players can play a match against each other on online.

In the conventional network match-up type game, a server computer for providing game software of the network match-up type game is connected to a client computer of a gamer who operating a virtual character thereof through an electrical communication network. The game software is executed on the client computer, so that virtual characters of players can play a match against each other.

In the conventional network match-up type game, the server computer stores data regarding previous matches of the virtual characters such as a match result and match contents. Accordingly, the server computer specifically generates a ranking of the virtual characters, and sends the ranking to the client computer of the gamer (refer to Patent Reference 1).

Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-135978

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the conventional network match-up type game described above, the server computer provides the game software and specifically generates the ranking. Then, the server computer simply sends the ranking to the gamers, thereby constituting a significantly closed system. Accordingly, a person other than the gamer tends not to be interested in, and only a limited number of the gamers can participate. Further, the ranking is generated in a limited range, and the gamers can play only within a limited range incapable of obtaining an absolute evaluation of the gamers.

Aspects for Solving the Problems

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a match-up game system, a headquarter server computer of a headquarter holding a member registered thereto; a game server computer of a game provider providing game software in which virtual characters of gamers play a match against each other; a member client computer of the member; and gamer client computers of the gamers are connected to each other via an electrical communication network. The match-up game system includes a game database providing step of providing a game database based on a data record regarding a previous match of the virtual characters from the game server computer to the headquartered computer; a ranking data record generation step in which the headquarter server computer generates a ranking data record for ranking the virtual characters based on the data record of the game database; and a ranking data record providing step of sending the ranking data record from the headquarter server computer to the member client computer and the gamer client computers.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, in the ranking data record generation step, one ranking data record is generated through integration of the game database provided from the game server computers.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect and the second aspect of the present invention, the match-up game system includes a matchmaking step in which the headquarter server computer selects a plurality of the virtual characters as opponents and notifies the gamer client computers of the virtual characters thus selected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, in the matchmaking step, the headquarter server computer selects the virtual characters as the opponents according to a request from the member client computer.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the match-up game system includes a video image providing step of providing a video image containing contents of a match of the virtual characters from the game server computer to the headquarter server computer; and a video image distribution step of distributing the video image from the headquarter server computer to the member client computer.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the match-up game system includes a match-up software distribution step of distributing match-up software in which the virtual characters of different game databases play the match against each other from the headquarter server computer to the gamer client computers, and a ranking data record modification step of modifying the ranking data record according to a result of the match in the match-up software.

The present invention provides the following effects.

According to the present invention, the headquarter server computer generates the ranking data record for ranking the virtual characters based on the data record of the game database; and the headquarter server computer sends the ranking data record to the member client computer and the gamer client computers. As a result, the gamer can obtain an evaluation about the virtual character thereof. Accordingly, the gamer trains and improves ability thereof, and is more interested in the game software. Thus, the game server computers 3 can acquire more users. The member other than the gamer can join the match-up game held on online as a spectator, being interested in the ranking data record 9. As a result, the headquarter server computer 2 can acquire more users and the match-up game system 1 can be attractive and supported by a wide range of users.

Further, the ranking data record may be generated integrally from the game database provided by a plurality of the game server computers. Accordingly, the virtual character can obtain an absolute evaluation thereof, so that the gamer can obtain an absolute evaluation thereof. Further, the members can be more interested in the ranking data record, thereby making the match-up game system 1 more attractive.

In addition, the headquarter server computer may select a plurality of the virtual characters for the match and notifies the gamer client computers of the virtual character thus selected. Therefore, the match-up game system can be more attractive since it is possible to provide a headquarter-driven matchmaking and provide the attractive match for the member as the spectator.

In particular, the headquarter server computer may select the virtual characters for the match according to the request from the member client computer. Therefore, the match-up game system can be more attractive since it is possible to provide the match requested by the member as the spectator.

Further, the match-up game system may be arranged to distribute the video image recording the content of the match of the virtual characters to the member client computer. Therefore, it is possible to provide the member as the spectator with the content of the match as well as the result of the match. As a result, the match-up game system can be attractive further.

Further, the match-up game system may be arranged to modify the ranking data record according to the result of the match with the match-up software. Accordingly, the gamer can improve the absolute evaluation thereof and the member can be more interested in ranking since the ranking can be fairer. Therefore, the match-up game system can be more attractive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a match-up game system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a processing sequence of the match-up game system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a database of a game provided by a company A according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a database of a game provided by a company B according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a process of generating a ranking data according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 MATCH-UP GAME SYSTEM

2 HEADQUARTER SERVER COMPUTER

3 GAME SERVER COMPUTER

4 MEMBER CLIENT COMPUTER

5 GAMER CLIENT COMPUTER

6 ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION NETWORK

7 and 8 GAME DATABASE

9 RANKING DATA RECORD

10 and 11 POINT DATA RECORD

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereunder, an embodiment of the present invention relating to a match-up game system will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, according to the present invention, a match-up game system 1 includes a headquarter server computer 2 of a headquarter holding a member registered thereto; a game server computer 3 of a game provider providing a game software in which virtual characters of gamers playing a game play a match against each other; a member client computer 4 of the member; and a gamer client computer 5 of the gamer connected to each other via an electrical communication network 6 such as an internet. It is suffice that each of the headquarter server computer 2, the game server computer 3, the member client computer 4 and the gamer client computer 5 is capable of computer functions such as being controlled by a software, communicating, and being operated by an operator, and is not limited to a so-called computer and includes a mobile computing device such as a PDA and a cell phone, and a gaming machine installed in a game arcade and so on. In addition, the electrical communication network 6 is capable of telecommunication and is not limited to a public electrical communication network such as the internet, and includes a private network used within a limited extent.

The headquarter is a main unit operating the match-up gaming system 1. The game provider provides a match-up gaming program (game software). Further, the gamer uses the game software and makes the virtual character thereof play the match against the virtual character of another gamer in a virtual reality on online. In addition, the member is registered to the headquarter and receives various services provided by the headquarter. Further, the headquarter may provide the service to the member directly and may provide the service to the virtual character of the member in the virtual reality on online.

Similar to an existing online match-up game system, in the match-up game system 1, first, a plurality of the gamers uses the game software provided by the game provider and makes the virtual characters thereof play the match against each other in the virtual reality by operating the gamer client computers 5 connected through the electrical communicating network 6. The game server computer 3 of the game provider stores data records (a name of the virtual character, a record of the match, a date of the match, an opponent and a result of the match and so on) of the match. Then, the game server computer 3 generates and stores game databases 7 and 8 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) about the virtual character playing the match by using the game software thereof, based on the data records of previous matches (a game database generation step).

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the game providers (a company A and a company B in FIGS. 3 and 4) generate the game databases 7 and 8 thereof, respectively. The game databases 7 and 8 include a plurality of the data records composed of the name of the virtual character, the record of the match and a name of a match history database storing a history of the matches, respectively. The game databases 7 and 8 further cooperate respectively with the match history database of each of the virtual characters. The match history database of each of the virtual characters includes a plurality of data records composed of the date of the match, the opponent, the result of the match and a time of the match. The game databases 7 and 8 may be databases with data record related to the previous matches of the virtual character. Alternatively, the game databases 7 and 8 may be composed of only the name of the virtual character and the record of the match. Further, the game databases 7 and 8 may be different by each of the game providers.

Further, in the match-up game system 1, the game server computer 3 provides the headquarter server computer 2 with the game databases 7 and 8 thereof by a request from the headquarter server computer 2 (a game database providing step). Accordingly, the headquarter server computer 2 requests the game server computer 3 for the game databases 7 and 8 and stores the game databases 7 and 8 in a memory unit after receiving the game databases 7 and 8 from the game server computer 3. When there is a plurality of the game server computers 3, all of the game server computers 3 provide the game databases 7 and 8.

Next, in the match-up game system 1, the headquarter server computer 2 generates a ranking data record 9 (shown in FIG. 5) ranking the virtual characters based on the data record about the virtual characters composing the game databases 7 and 8 (a ranking data record generation step).

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the headquarter server computer 2 generates point data records 10 and 11 by calculating a point unique to each of the virtual characters for each of the game providers from the game database 7 and 8. Then, the headquarter server computer 2 generates the ranking data record 9 by ranking all of the point data records 10 and 11 in a descending order of the virtual characters. The headquarter determines a rule to calculate the point uniquely. For example, when the winning-percentage is 50%, a winning-percentage of the virtual character may be the point thereof directly as the point is 50. The point may be calculated from the winning-percentage by simply multiplying with respect to each of the game providers. For example, when the winning-percentage at the company A is 50%, the point is 40 as 50×0.8=40, while the winning-percentage at the company B is 50%, the point is 25 as 50×0.5=25, and so on. In addition, the point may be calculated with the one-of-a-kind rule with reference to the history of the past matches. When the headquarter server computer 2 generates the ranking data record 9 integrated from the game databases 7 and 8 from a plurality of the game providers, it is preferable to calculate the point by multiplying the data record with respect to each of the game databases 7 and 8 from the game providers, since a disparity between the game software from each of the game providers can be corrected.

When the ranking data record 9 is generated from a plurality of the game databases 7 and 8, the ranking data record 9 may be generated as one integrated ranking data record or may be generated as a plurality of the ranking data records ranking the virtual characters for each of the game databases 7 and 8 separately. It is not necessary that the ranking data record 9 ranks the virtual characters of all of the gamers. The ranking data record 9 may rank only the virtual characters of the gamers requesting for ranking. Further, the ranking data record 9 may be updated constantly or may be updated periodically.

Next, in the match-up game system 1, the headquarter server computer 2 sends the ranking data record 9 to the member client computer 4 and the gamer client computer 5, thereby providing the ranking data record 9 (a ranking data record providing step).

The headquarter server computer 2 may send the ranking data record 9 to all of the members and the gamers or may send the ranking data record 9 only to pre-registered members and gamers. Further, the headquarter server computer 2 may provide the ranking data record 9 by allowing the member and the gamer requesting from the member client computer 4 and the gamer client computer 5 to access the ranking data 9.

Being provided with the ranking data 9, the gamer can choose an opponent to play the match against personally, referring the ranking data record 9 provided from the headquarter server computer 2.

Further, the member provided with the ranking data record 9 can request a match of the virtual characters chosen by referring the ranking data record 9, from the member client computer 4 to the headquarter server computer (a matchmaking request step).

When the match of particular virtual characters is requested from the member, the headquarter server computer 2 selects the virtual characters requested for the match (a virtual character selection step), and notifies the member client computer 4 that the match will be held, as well as notifying the gamer client computer 5 of the selected virtual character that the virtual character is selected for the match (a matchmaking notification step).

Accordingly, in the match-up game system 1, the headquarter server computer 2 notifies the gamer client computer 5 of each of the selected virtual characters after selecting a plurality of the virtual characters for the match (a matchmaking step).

When the headquarter server computer 2 selects the virtual character (a virtual character selection step), it is not limited to be based on a request from the member. For example, the headquarter server computer 2 may select the virtual characters at a first place and a second place in the ranking data record 9, the virtual characters with the same point, or a combination of the virtual characters selected automatically from the ranking data record 9.

By notifying the matchmaking, the gamer can play the match against the virtual character selected by the headquarter server computer 2. Further, the member can realize the match requested by the member.

In addition, in the match-up game system 1, the game server computer 3 generates a video image showing a content of the match as a plurality of the gamers uses the game software provided by the game provider and makes the virtual characters thereof play the match against each other in the virtual reality by operating the gamer client computers 5 connected through the electrical communicating network 6 (a video image generation step).

Then, in the match-up game system 1, the game server computer 3 provides the video image to the headquarter server computer 2 according to a request from the headquarter server computer 2 (a video image providing step). Thus, the headquarter server computer 2 requests the game server computer 3 to provide the video image and receives the video image from the game server computer 3. Then, the headquarter server computer 2 stores the video image in the memory unit, thereby storing a plurality of the video images (a video image storage step). When there is a plurality of the game server computers 3, the headquarter server computer 2 receives the video image from all of the game server computers 3, respectively.

Next, in the match-up game system 1, the headquarter server computer 2 sends the video image to the member client computer 4 and the game client computer 5, thereby distributing the video image (a video image distribution step).

The headquarter server computer 2 may distribute the video image to all of the members and the gamers. Alternatively, the headquarter server computer 2 may distribute the video image only to the pre-registered members and gamers. Further, the headquarter server computer 2 may distribute the video image by allowing the member and the gamer requesting from the member client computer 4 and the gamer client computer 5 to watch the video image.

Through distributing the video image, the gamers are able to research how the virtual characters thereof and the virtual characters of other gamers played in the matches held previously. In addition, through distributing the video image, the members are able to watch the matches among the virtual characters and be helped request for the match.

In addition, in the match-up game system 1, it is possible to have a match using a match-up software provided by the headquarter as well as the match using the game software provided by the game provider.

More specifically, in the match-up game system 1, the headquarter server computer 2 creates the match-up software for making it possible for the virtual characters in the different game databases 7 and 8 to be able to play a match against each other (a match-up software creation step). The headquarter server computer 2 distributes the match-up software to the gamer by sending the match-up software to the gamer client computer 5 (a match-up software distribution step).

The headquarter server computer 2 may distribute the match-up software to all of the gamers. Alternatively, the headquarter server computer 2 may distribute the match-up software only to the gamer sending a request to the headquarter server computer 2 from the gamer client computer 5.

Further, in the match-up game system 1, a plurality of the gamers uses the match-up software and makes the virtual characters thereof play the match against each other in the virtual reality by operating the gamer client computers 5 connected through the electrical communicating network 6. Then, the headquarter server computer 2 stores data records (a name of the virtual character, a record of a match, a date of the match, an opponent and a result of the match and so on) of the match and modifies the ranking data record 9 according to the result of the match using the match-up software (a ranking data record modification step).

As described above, the match-up game system 1 includes the game database providing step of providing the game databases 7 and 8 based on the data records about the previous matches of the virtual character from the game server computer 3 to the headquartered server computer 2; the ranking data record generation step by the headquarter server computer 2 of generating the ranking data record 9 for ranking the virtual character based on the data record of the virtual character composing the game databases 7 and 8; and the ranking data record providing step of sending the ranking data record 9 from the headquarter server computer 2 to the member client computer 4 and the gamer client computer 5. As a result, the gamer can obtain the evaluation about the virtual character thereof. Accordingly, the gamer trains and improves ability thereof, and is more interested in the game software. Thus, the game server computers 3 can acquire more users. The member other than the gamer can join the match-up game held on online as a spectator, being interested in the ranking data record 9. As a result, the headquarter server computer 2 can acquire more users and the match-up game system 1 can be attractive and supported by a wide range of users.

Further, in the match-up game system 1, the ranking data record 9 is generated integrally from the game databases 7 and 8 provided by a plurality of the game server computers 3 in the ranking data generation step.

Accordingly, the virtual character can obtain an absolute evaluation thereof, so that the gamer can obtain an absolute evaluation thereof. Further, the members can be more interested in the ranking data record 9, thereby making the match-up game system 1 more attractive.

In addition, the match-up game system 1 includes the matchmaking step where the headquarter server computer 2 selects a plurality of the virtual characters for the match and notifies the gamer client computer 5 of the virtual character thus selected. Therefore, the match-up game system 1 can be more attractive since it is possible to provide a headquarter-driven matchmaking and provide the attractive match for the member as the spectator.

In addition, in the match-up game system 1, the headquarter server computer 2 selects the virtual characters for the match according to the request from the member client computer 4 in the matchmaking step. Therefore, the match-up game system 1 can be more attractive since it is possible to provide the match requested by the member as the spectator.

Further, the match-up game system 1 includes the video image providing step of providing the video image recording the content of the match of the virtual characters from the game server computer 3 to the headquarter server computer 2; and the video image distribution step of distributing the video image from the headquarter server computer 2 to the member client computer 4. Therefore, it is possible to provide the member as the spectator with the content of the match as well as the result of the match. As a result, the match-up game system 1 can be attractive further.

Further, the match-up game system 1 includes the match-up software distribution step of distributing the match-up software for making the virtual characters in the different game databases 7 and 8 play the match against each other from the headquarter server computer 2 to the gamer client computer 5. Further, the match-up game system 1 includes the ranking data record modification step of modifying the ranking data record 9 according to the result of the match with the match-up software. Accordingly, the gamer can improve the absolute evaluation thereof and the member can be more interested in ranking since the ranking can be fairer. Therefore, the match-up game system 1 can be more attractive. 

1. A match-up game system, in which a headquarter server computer of a headquarter holding a member registered thereto; a game server computer of a game provider providing game software in which virtual characters of gamers play a match against each other; a member client computer of the member; and gamer client computers of the gamers are connected to each other via an electrical communication network, comprising: a game database providing step of providing a game database based on a data record regarding a previous match of the virtual characters from the game server computer to the headquartered computer; a ranking data record generation step in which the headquarter server computer generates a ranking data record for ranking the virtual characters based on the data record of the game database; and a ranking data record providing step of sending the ranking data record from the headquarter server computer to the member client computer and the gamer client computers.
 2. The match-up game system according to claim 1, wherein, in the ranking data record generation step, one ranking data record is generated through integration of the game database provided from the game server computers.
 3. The match-up game system according to claim 1, further comprising a matchmaking step in which the headquarter server computer selects more than one of the virtual characters as opponents and notifies the gamer client computers of the virtual characters thus selected.
 4. The match-up game system according to claim 3, wherein, in the matchmaking step, the headquarter server computer selects the virtual characters as the opponents according to a request from the member client computer.
 5. The match-up game system according to claim 1, further comprising: a video image providing step of providing a video image containing contents of a match of the virtual characters from the game server computer to the headquarter server computer; and a video image distribution step of distributing the video image from the headquarter server computer to the member client computer.
 6. The match-up game system according to claim 1, further comprising: a match-up software distribution step of distributing match-up software in which the virtual characters of different game databases play the match against each other from the headquarter server computer to the gamer client computers; and a ranking data record modification step of modifying the ranking data record according to a result of the match in the match-up software. 